Capital Equipment News December 2022

TRAINING

Members of the Dekra Industrials team celebrating safety.

principles regarding the safe construction and maintenance of the working platform, ladders, scaffolds and walkways in elevated positions. “The outcomes of the unit standard ISO 120362 /229998 must be met,” explains Mörsner. The location of the new premises, in the Success Academy business centre in Centurion, is strategically planned. As a result, employees taking on training will be able to access the facility easier due to its location close to public transport. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t flexibility in learning. “The training can be presented at Dekra IOL’s offices in Centurion, although we prefer to do it at the client’s premises. We can also offer a course that is completely online or uses a hybrid approach or mix of online and in-person training. One of the reasons we prefer to present the training at the employer’s premises is because the employee tends to be more comfortable in the environment they know and are familiar with. At a psychological level, one can inadvertently add more mental and emotional stress if the course is presented in unfamiliar surroundings,” says Mörsner. While performing activities at height, it is essential to remember that there is always a risk of fall injuries – so certified and expert training is an integral part of an employer’s responsibility in facilitating their employees’ safety. Therefore, this training is imperative locally and globally, as working at heights is required in many different industry sectors. In South Africa and Africa as a whole, this type of safety training is governed by legislation - and it is mandatory to not only have worked at heights but also other health and safety training within the workplace - to

means work in any place where, if there were no precautions, an employee could fall a distance liable to cause personal injury or even death,” says Mörsner. The Dekra IOL VR training course is interactive and informative. It offers the user the effect of being on a construction site. “It is important to note that the training course is also SETA-accredited. Learning is especially effective when it is fun, and this training course enables anyone to learn about working at heights in a firstly safe way and, secondly, entertaining. It equips the individual to go into the field armed with the knowledge that has been previously programme is applicable across multiple industries and is available on the Dekra learner management system for anyone who wants to complete work at heights training, whether for the first time or as a refresher course. Mörsner adds: “While this functionality will be appreciated by our corporate clients, it facilitates the required learning for their employees. This is because many adults prefer to learn in an environment in which they feel comfortable. The VR training programme can facilitate this in two ways: firstly, by allowing them to learn in a physical environment they are familiar with - for example, their own day to-day company work premises. Secondly, by customising the virtual learning surroundings, this becomes a virtual copy of a working at heights environment that learners know in real life.” The training programme operates according to self-paced learning. It can be accessed using virtual reality headsets and a laptop. b instilled, safely yet effectively.” Mörsner notes that the training

ensure the required competencies are met competently for the relevant roles. Safety first “At Dekra IOL, we believe wholeheartedly in our efforts to facilitate safety and well being at work for employees throughout South Africa and beyond.” For Mörsner, it is crucial to raise awareness around the well-being of employees and the preservation of life. “Such a raised awareness creates a culture of care - and a willingness on the employer’s part to reduce employees’ exposure to potential hazards. Our courses follow an integrated safety awareness approach, and each adds value consecutively – ultimately creating a value chain of safety training and ensuring a safer working environment as a result,” he adds. Through dedicated testing and significant investment, the Dekra Learning simultaneously. The analytics have been thoroughly tested to ensure that it has the capacity for many learners at any given time. Making use of technology In August, Dekra IOL announced that the working at heights training course on a virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) platform was live. The PC-based, 3D e-learning is a first in South Africa. This innovative course was developed and designed in partnership with software company Virtutec. “Working at height remains one of the biggest causes of fatalities and major injuries across many sectors, including engineering, construction, mining and industrial environments. ‘Work at height’ Management platform is designed to accommodate multiple learners

CAPITAL EQUIPMENT NEWS DECEMBER 2022 10

Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs